SMEs (MKB+) are getting started with Private 5G in 2026: how you can also tap into this development

January 22, 2026 - In 2024 and 2025, the first early adopters began working with the Private 4G/5G solution from Celona worldwide. From an immense stadium in Cleveland to the railway company Amtrak. The common thread? Large enterprise organizations with vast surface areas and many users. And it seemed at the end of last year that this group would continue to dominate in 2026. Yet, we, and our colleagues, are also hearing other signals in the market: SMEs.

New use cases

In the Port of Rotterdam, you can no longer ignore it. Several port companies have been the first in the Benelux in recent years to make the switch to Private 5G. This group is primarily interested because Private 5G networks are completely private. Ideal for environments where downtime is costly. On August 1, 2025, Odido customers in North and South Holland were without a network for 13 hours. Those are expensive hours without Private 5G.

A new use case that is emerging in the Benelux is medium-to-large distribution centers with autonomous vehicles (also known as AGVs). Because Private 5G devices have a much larger radius than Wi-Fi Access Points, fewer mounting points are required. Additionally, unlike Wi-Fi, roaming between cells is not an issue, resulting in demonstrably higher reliability and lower latency.

Experiments are also taking place in healthcare. The Stanford Medical Institute was 50% more cost-effective with Celona's Private 5G than with a traditional DAS system. But small(er) institutions closer to home are also seeing opportunities. For example, a care facility in the east of the Netherlands chose Private 5G to guarantee better protection for critical data.

The influence of Aerflex

These developments coincide with the introduction of Aerflex in early 2025. Celona Access Points with Aerflex have a built-in controller; this makes deploying Private 5G (even) simpler and more affordable. Where millions were invested a year ago, a medium-sized company with Aerflex can now run its own network for a fraction of that cost, with the same guarantees as large players.

Join the revolution

At Alcadis, we also see this development and are moving along with the market. For instance, we regularly organize update sessions on Private 5G and other technological developments. These are on the agenda for 2026 as well — with a special focus on Aerflex and AGVs. A must for any Wi-Fi reseller looking to expand their offering!

Additionally, you are always welcome to reach out via sales@alcadis.nl or 030 – 65 85 125 for no-obligation advice.

There is no better time to get started with Private 5G than in 2026! Will you join the revolution?